What folder do I put custom notification sounds?

What are custom notification sounds?

Custom notification sounds are audio files that can be set to play for various alerts and notifications on a smartphone or other device. These allow you to personalize the default sounds that come with a phone or app. Rather than using the default noises, custom sounds let you assign a unique tone that you select.

Some popular uses of custom notification sounds include:

• Ringtones – Customize the ringtone heard when receiving a phone call.
• Text and messaging tones – Set a unique sound for new text messages, WhatsApp messages, Facebook messages, etc.
• Alarm sounds – Make the morning alarm noise more pleasant and personalized.
• App notifications – Configure app alerts to play a custom sound instead of the default.
• Calendar/reminder sounds – Add personalized tones for calendar events and reminders.

By using custom notification sounds, you can personalize your device to play noises that you find more enjoyable, recognizable, or meaningful. This allows you to customize your experience.

Why use custom notification sounds?

Using custom notification sounds allows for increased personalization and customization of your device’s alerts. The default notification sounds on smartphones can get repetitive and boring over time. Setting a custom sound lets you choose an alert tone that matches your personality and interests.

Custom notification sounds also help differentiate between different apps and types of alerts. Rather than every notification sounding the same, unique custom sounds can allow you to identify which app is sending the alert without even looking at your phone. This can be especially useful for messaging apps to identify who is contacting you.

Overall, custom notification sounds provide a simple way to customize your mobile experience and reflect your style. The ability to assign unique sounds to different apps and contacts allows for a more personalized device tailored to you. It helps add personality to your technology.

How to get custom notification sounds

There are a few different ways to get custom notification sounds for your device:

Download from app stores or online – Many apps in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store offer packs of custom notification sounds available for download. You can browse through different genres or search for specific keywords like “notification sounds” to find free and paid options. Websites like Zedge also offer thousands of free notification sounds to download.

Create your own audio files – If you want a completely unique notification sound, you can create your own using audio editing software. Record a short sound clip, song snippet, voice memo, etc. and edit it into a 5-10 second audio file in the proper format. Save the file with a name like “customsound.mp3”.

Convert existing songs/audio – You can also take any short audio segment from an existing song, YouTube video, or other source and convert it into a notification sound file. Use an online audio converter or audio editing software to extract part of the audio and export it as an MP3 or other supported format. This lets you repurpose music or sounds into a custom alert.

What file formats work for custom sounds

The most common file formats that work for custom notification sounds are MP3, WAV, and ACC.

For iOS devices, the recommended formats are MP3, WAV, M4A, and ACC. The sound files need to be under 30 seconds long. For best quality, use files that are encoded at 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz, 16 bit, stereo. iOS also has strict file size limits of 5 MB for ringtones and 30 MB for notification sounds.

On Android, MP3, WAV, and OGG are the most widely supported formats. Sound files can be up to 1 minute long for ringtones and notifications. There are no specific file size limits, but larger files may impact performance. For best results, Android recommends using files that are encoded at 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz, 16 bit, stereo, and keeping files under 1-2 MB.

So in summary, MP3 and WAV are universally compatible on both platforms and meet all the requirements. ACC will also work for iOS. Keep the file sizes small, under 30 seconds, and use standard encoding for optimal playback.

How to add custom sounds on iOS

Here are the steps for adding custom ringtones, text tones, and alarm sounds on an iPhone:

To add a custom ringtone:

• Connect your iPhone to your computer using a Lightning cable and open iTunes. Select your iPhone.
• In iTunes, click on the Tones section and drag an audio file into the Ringtones section. Make sure the file is in MP3, WAV, or AAC format.
• Sync your iPhone with iTunes. The custom ringtone will now appear in the Sounds & Haptics settings on your iPhone.

For a text tone, drag an audio file into the Text Tones section in iTunes instead. For an alarm sound, drag it into the Alert Tones section.

You can also use GarageBand on your Mac to create custom ringtones or text tones from songs. Open GarageBand and select New Project > Ringtone or Alert Tone. Import a song and set the start and end time, then export it.

See this guide for more details on using iTunes or GarageBand to add custom sounds:
https://www.howtogeek.com/248489/how-to-add-custom-ringtones-to-your-iphone/

How to Add Custom Sounds on Android

There are a few different ways to add custom sounds for ringtones, notifications, and alarms on Android devices:

One method is to use your device’s built-in File Manager app to add audio files. First, download or obtain the custom sound files you want to use, in .mp3 or .wav format. Then open the File Manager app and navigate to the Ringtones, Notifications, or Alarms folder, depending on where you want to save the sound. Tap the folder, then tap the “Add” or “+” icon, select the sound files you downloaded, and tap “Save.” The custom sounds will now appear as available options when setting your ringtones, notifications, or alarms.

Another popular option is to use the Zedge app, which offers a wide selection of free ringtones, notification sounds, alarm tones, and more to download. Simply search or browse for sounds in the Zedge app, then tap “Download.” Open your device Settings, go to Sounds, then tap a sound default option like Ringtone or Notification. You’ll see the Zedge downloads available to select as the custom sound.

You can also connect your Android device to your computer and directly transfer audio files into the appropriate Ringtones, Notifications, or Alarms folder on the device storage. Just make sure the files are in a compatible format. After transferring the files, disconnect from the computer, then set the custom sounds in your device Settings.

Overall, Android makes it easy to customize your audio alerts. With a few downloads or file transfers, you can set any short sound bite as your custom text tone, alarm, notification jingle, and more.

Setting custom sounds for apps

One useful feature on both iOS and Android devices is the ability to set custom notification sounds for individual apps, rather than using the default alert tone for all notifications. This allows you to assign unique sounds for different apps so you can identify which app is notifying you without having to look at your phone.

To set a custom notification sound for an app on iOS, go to the Settings app and select Notifications. Find the app you want to customize in the list and tap on it. In the next screen, tap Sounds and select the sound you want from your options. Make sure the toggle next to Sounds is turned on. You’ll now hear this custom tone for new notifications from that app instead of the default.

On Android, open the Settings app and go to Apps & Notifications > Notifications. Tap on the app you want to customize, then tap Sound and select your desired alert tone. Toggle on “Use custom notification sound” to enable it. The app will now use this sound for new notifications.

Keep in mind notifications from things like incoming calls and alarms will still use the default system sound. Only app-specific notifications can have custom sounds. This allows you to easily identify a notification from apps like WhatsApp or Facebook without having to look at your phone.

Sources: https://www.reddit.com/r/tasker/comments/91lkqp/custom_sms_sounds_for_contacts/, https://www.androidhelpcenter.com/how-to-change-notification-sounds-for-different-apps-android/

Troubleshooting Tips

If your custom notification sounds are not working properly, here are some troubleshooting tips:

One common issue is that the custom sound file is not compatible or the wrong file type. Make sure the sound file is in a supported audio format like MP3 or WAV and not too large in file size. Android and iOS have limits on the size of notification sound files. Refer to your device’s documentation for specifics.

Another problem could be that the custom sound file is not saved in the correct folder location. On Android, notification sound files need to be saved in the Notifications folder, usually located at internal storage/Ringtones or SD card/Ringtones. For iOS, custom sounds must be saved in /Library/Ringtones on your device.

If you recently updated your OS, there may be a bug causing notification sounds to fail. Check if others are reporting issues with notifications after an OS update. Temporarily using a default sound may work until a fix is released.

Make sure the app permissions allow access to notification sounds. Go into the app settings and verify notifications are enabled and permission to play sounds is granted. Also check your global device settings to confirm notification sounds are not disabled.

For messages, you may need to set the custom sound on each individual conversation. Sounds set at the app level don’t always carry over to specific message threads. Test a few different conversations to isolate the issue.

Still having trouble? Try restarting your device or toggling notification access off and back on for the problematic app. As a last resort, you can back up your data and perform a factory reset if you think there is a deeper system-level problem.

Custom Sound Inspiration

Looking for some fun and unique ideas for custom notification sounds? Here are some creative options to consider:

Funny Notification Sound Ideas

Inject a little humor into your notifications with funny sound clips like:

• Classic meme sounds like the “Deal With It” sunglasses dropping or the “Sad Trombone” wah-wah sound
• Comedic voices saying silly phrases like “What’s up Doc?” in a Bugs Bunny voice
• Random funny sounds like an “uh-oh” crash or glass breaking

Movie/TV Show Sound Clips

Use iconic sounds from your favorite movies or shows like:

• Lightsaber sounds from Star Wars
• Wolverine’s claws unsheathing from X-Men
• The door creak from The Haunted Mansion ride at Disney
• “You’ve Got Mail” from AOL’s popular commercial

Creating Meme or Viral Audio Files

Get creative and make your own audio files using soundboards or audio editing apps. Turn viral videos into notification tones like:

• The “it’s free real estate” or “parkour!” videos
• Popular TikTok audios like “oh no, our table, it’s broken”
• The Wilhem scream from various movies

With so many options, you can find the perfect custom notification to make your phone uniquely yours!

Key takeaways

In summary, using custom notification sounds can make your device more personal and help you identify important alerts. The easiest ways to add custom sounds are by using the built-in Settings on iOS and Android. You can set unique sounds for apps like Messages, Email, Calendar, and more. It’s important to choose meaningful sounds that stand out so you don’t miss key notifications. Opt for sounds that grab your attention but aren’t overly jarring.

When selecting custom sounds, think about how they fit your style and needs. For example, pick fun sounds for friends and family versus ringtones that exude professionalism for work contacts. Downloading sound packs or making your own recordings opens up even more possibilities. With the right custom sounds set up, your device can become much more functional and expressive.